As university lecturers prepare for major strike action Jane Woodhead looks at the possible impact on students who may be unable to graduate this summer.

As university lecturers prepare for major strike action Jane Woodhead looks at the possible impact on students who may be unable to graduate this summer.

STUDENTS who have worked for years to gain a degree today face the heartbreaking prospect of being unable to graduate on time.

Around 900 lecturers across Liverpool will join thousands throughout Britain in a two-day strike starting tomorrow over pay.

Unions say it will "cripple" teaching assessment at universities.

And the Liverpool Association of University Teachers has today revealed that further strike action will follow on March 1 when it will continue indefinitely.

The impact of the action means:

* NO exam papers will be set

* NO students will have their work marked

* Lecturers WILL NOT cover for colleagues as a result of sickness

* Lecturers will REFUSE to accept out of hours call outs

University chiefs have confirmed the action could result in students being unable to graduate.

Dr John Fry, President of the Association of University Teach-ers, says it is impossible to say how long the action could continue and how long it could be before students are able to graduate.

He adds: "This will have a devastating impact on students. It is something which will also affect second year students moving into their third year if they cannot be properly assessed. It is possible the university may just allow students to move up a year without proper assessments taking place but this is not what should be happening."

But despite this, the students are supporting their lecturers in the dispute.

Hannah Charnock, president of the Liverpool Guild of Students, explains: "The deterioration in teaching resources and the quality of education, which has accompanied the erosion in academic salaries and increased workloads, can no longer be tolerated.

"Short-term disruption in teaching is preferable if it brings the justified long-term rewards to staff and revitalises their teaching."

Roger Brooks, vice-president of the Liverpool Association of University Teachers, adds: "This will cause disruption to students but we do have their support.

"We believe we have been left with no alternative but to take this action. We have been under-paid for too long and the situation cannot continue."

The lecturers - around 800 from Liverpool University and 100 from John Moores - are objecting to new pay structures.

Roger says: "Our employers are trying to impose new pay structures which fail to address the 40% shortfall in pay over the last 20 years. Our pay has declined by 40% when compared to other similar professions."

And he adds that the proposals echo the controversial issue of topup fees.

Roger explains: "It is likely that we will end up with a situation where staff will be paid in accordance to where they work and not what they do.

"There is a clear connection here with the problem of variable top-up fees - where richer institutions charging more for their courses will be able to afford to pay staff more."

He stresses that staff are not asking to be paid better than all other professionals.

He says: "We just want to be paid as well and we would like nothing better than to restart negotiations with the universities. What is being proposed would lead to pay cuts for lecturers, researchers and other academic staff."

Liverpool University student Ben Folley, 21, is due to receive his masters degree in 20th Century Modern History this year.

He says although he will not be happy if he does not receive it or there is a delay, he still supports the lecturers.

Ben adds: "My masters is something which I have obviously worked towards during the last four years and I have got huge concerns as have many other students. I am worried about the delays which will follow for me trying to secure a job if I do not graduate at the right time.

"There will be major disruption caused, but we support the lecturers and have sympathy for them and we want to work with them to get the situation resolved as quickly as we can.

"We believe, by putting pressure on the vice-chancellor, we can get the situation resolved. I know many of the lecturers resent what they are having to do but feel they are being forced into it and being left with no choice."

Both Liverpool University and JMU say they are doing everything they can to minimise disruption to students.

A spokeswoman says: "While understanding the frustration of university staff over pay, we regret the decision of the AUT member s to take industrial action.

"However, the University is committed to pay modernisation."

In addition to the disruption to thousands of student s and their futures, lecturers and academics also play a vital role in the outside world.

As well as training teachers, civil servants, health workers, lawyers, architects and engineers, they contribute to society through the knowledge gained from research. Whether it is in understanding our universe or the origin of life, advances in the use of materials or disease control, a majority of this work is carried out in universities.

The Association of University Teachers nationally, balloted its 47,000 members last month with a recommendation to support a campaign of industrial action.

Strike action will take place throughout the week in various areas of the country. The action does not involve staff at LIPA and Hope University College.